A comprehensive embedded systems design course and laboratory

Abstract

In this paper we present a vision of the sequence of three embedded systems design courses being taught for computer engineering technology students. The focus of these courses is to prepare strong students in both digital hardware design as well as embedded software design. The courses have been evolving from traditional delivery of the content to a highly interactive hands-on industry-like experience where students are allowed to balance tradeoffs between hardware and software, and to design from idea to final implementation. The sequence progresses around examples of everyday objects as simple as an electric toothbrush, to smartphones and tablets, to airplanes and military devices. Being so pervasive, emerging embedded applications are used as examples and students are asked to explore further to find what skills, hardware and software, are required to build these applications. In the present review, a glimpse of the core ideas around these three courses and how can they be implemented to engage students in this vast field is given.

A project-based embedded systems design course using a reconfigurable SoC platform

“…The Rochester Institute of Technology has created a more rigorous embedded systems sequence consisting of three courses designed to advance the students' proficiency in embedded systems concepts [3]. The first course covers advanced computer organization topics, the second focuses on creating custom intellectual property (IP) components and implementing custom instructions, and the last course is a capstone course.…”

Embedded lab: Arduino projects in science lessons

“…This paper explores the world of Arduino, Fritzing and sensors through multiple versions of existing ideas. We integrate ongoing feedback into the learning process, and identify the strength and weakness of designed systems [6].…”

An Agile embedded systems capstone course

“…Our CpET students have already taken a strong sequence on ESD and are proficient in both HW and SW as described 978-1-4673-5261-1/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE in [1]. Until this course, their experience has been based more on weekly laboratory exercises where the expected outcomes are defined by the instructor, rather than the student being allowed to come up with an independent solution based on their already acquired set of skills.…”